Comic Review: Marauders #10

Marauders #10

Marvel Comics

Writer: Gerry Duggan

Artist: Stefano Caselli & Edgar Delgado

Man, it feels good to see panels with the X-Men in them again. Marauder #10 marks a return to the norm as we get back into the swing of X-Men comics.

For those who need a refresher, a lot has happened in Marauders, namely the death of one of the most beloved mutants (Name withheld for spoiler purposes). Now Emma Frost and the rest of the Marauders are a bit angry, and those who are responsible are caught in the middle of their rampage.

Gerry Duggan has possibly written the most important issue of this series yet with Marauders #10. Sure, the seemingly permanent death of a mutant has a more significant impact on the narrative, but this issue has a much larger impact outside of the pages. Many forget that comic books tend to have statements, and most of those are political or social in some way. The X-Men have constantly represented the marginalized people in society, and I always love to see that on display when reading.

Gerry Duggan uses Emma Frost as a strong reminder of this in one of the most iconic moments in the character’s history. Marauders #10 has some fantastic moments, and just about every one of them involves The White Queen. It’s made clear in this issue that the X-Men stands for everyone, not just mutants.

The rest of the issue is par for the course, full of shady characters, Krakoa politics, and fun action sequences. It’s just about everything you’ve come to expect from this series. The solid pacing ensures that everything stays entertaining without making the book feel too crowded. The dialogue is full of strong banter, but this issue doesn’t have as much humor as some of the earlier chapters did. Cory Petit’s lettering isn’t anything too crazy, but nothing is distracting and everything is easy to follow. The lettering allows for natural dialogue which is all one can really ask for.

Stefano Caselli and Edgar Delgado keep the book looking great with grand action sequences and dynamic coloring. Every action scene seems epic in scale while each character is full of life. Character poses and expressions remain consistent throughout the issue, leaving very little to complain about. Delgado’s coloring adds the usual depth to the art while also playing with a wide variety of colors, making this a gorgeous issue to look at. Delgado’s sequential art keeps everything moving smoothly in a way that readers won’t struggle to keep up with what is going on between the panels.

Marauders #10 is a welcome return to X-Men comic books and a great reminder of what these characters stand for. This is another great issue in what might be the best X-Book on the stands right now.